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Letter to the Editor: Allowing children on Rocky Flats should be a crime

Posted
Tuesday, July 10, 2018 3:07 pm

Scientists and medical doctors around the world have researched the impacts of plutonium and have found significant risks attached to inhaling a microparticle of plutonium, invisible to the human eye.John W. Gofman, M.D., Ph. D. led a “Plutonium Group” at UC Berkeley. The group studied the biological effects of alpha particles emitted by the radioactive decay of plutonium and found that there is no safe dose, meaning that just one decaying radioactive atom can produce permanent mutation in a cell’s genetic molecules.

These mutations can take decades to develop and show up in the form of rare cancers, birth defects, and more. Children are the most vulnerable citizens.

The EPA and the DOE Legacy Management have confirmed that there is plutonium on the land of the refuge, where 70,000 plutonium pits were once produced. Environmental crimes were committed at the Rocky Flats Plant and plutonium was leaked into the soil, air, and drinking water.

Members of the public have opposed the opening of the refuge. The seven school districts that have taken a stance to protect children and disallow field trips to the refuge should be commended.

To say that the refuge is safe for living beings, based on outdated studies and a lack of sound evidence, is irresponsible. There are so many things in this world that we cannot protect our children from, but this is not one of them. We can prevent additional harm by keeping the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge closed.